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Contents

• Acknowledgements
• Acronyms and abbreviations
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Deaths in prison custody
• Deaths in police custody and custody-related operations
• References
• Appendix A: Methodology
• Appendix B: Data tables - Deaths in custody 2020–21 key findings
• Appendix C: Data tables - Deaths in custody by custodial authority, 1979–80 to 2020–21
• Appendix D: Data tables - Deaths in prison custody, 1979–80 to 2020–21

Contents

• Acknowledgements
• Acronyms and abbreviations
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Deaths in prison custody
• Deaths in police custody and custody-related operations
• References
• Appendix A: Methodology
• Appendix B: Data tables - Deaths in custody 2019-20 key findings
• Appendix C: Data tables - Deaths in custody by custodial authority, 1979–80 to 2019–20
• Appendix D: Data tables - Deaths in prison custody, 1979–80 to 2019–20

This report is funded by Victim Support ACT and ACT Policing. Since the completion of the report in 2009, Victim Support ACT and ACT Policing have used it to facilitate better access to support services for people affected by crime.

To help combat domestic and family violence the Australian Capital Territory arm of the Australian Federal Police, ACT Policing, began the Family Violence Intervention Program in May 1998. The program maintains a database on family violence incidents with the aim of assisting ACT Policing to improve its responses to such incidents. The incidents recorded in the database include each occurrence of family violence in the ACT in which police were either involved or notified, and include events leading up to police arrival at an incident and during police presence.

Contents

• Acknowledgements
• Acronyms and abbreviations
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Deaths in prison custody
• Deaths in police custody and custody-related operations
• References
• Appendix A: Methodology
• Appendix B: Data tables - Deaths in custody 2018–19 key findings
• Appendix C: Data tables - Deaths in custody by custodial authority, 1979–80 to 2018–19
• Appendix D: Data tables - Deaths in prison custody, 1979–80 to 2018–19

The 2004 National drug strategy household survey shows that amphetamine-type stimulants rank second in the most recently used illegal drugs in Australia. Through the quarterly drug testing of police detainees, as part of the Drug use monitoring in Australia (DUMA) program, it is possible to track changes in methylamphetamine use between 2000 and 2004. Applying a logarithmic trend indicates that the proportion of police detainees who tested positive to methylamphetamine has generally increased over this five-year period.

Amphetamine use is increasing, according to a report released by the Australian Institute of Criminology that is based on data from interviews of police detainees in four sites within Australia (Bankstown NSW, East Perth WA, Parramatta NSW and Southport Qld). The detainees participated in surveys on their drug use and criminal history as well as being asked to provide a urine sample as part of the Drug Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA) project.

Note: Second edition of this title published in 1990.

People detained by police are more likely to test positive to drugs if they have previously been arrested or in prison, according to a report released by the Australian Institute of Criminology. Figures show that of the detainees who tested positive to any drug (including cannabis, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, opiates, methadone and MDMA), 63 per cent had been arrested in the past 12 months, compared with 40 per cent of detainees who did not test positive to drugs.

Key findings

• The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) interviewed 842 detainees about their first experience of drug use as part of the AIC’s Drug Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA) program. Detainees were asked to recount the reasons why they first tried drugs, as well as why they continued to use them. Those detainees who had abstained were asked to nominate the factors that were important in their decision to not use drugs.

In partnership with the Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Karen Andrews MP, and state and territory police commissioners, the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) today awarded 12 Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards to police and community-led projects across the nation in a virtual ceremony.